The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in an almost certain impossible situation going by history. After last Saturday night’s loss, they are now 3-0 down in their second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
No NBA team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. Monday night’s Game 4 looks more like a chance to avoid a sweep rather than mount a comeback.
As such, the offseason will be on the agenda of the Lakers’ front office. The biggest story will be on their 41-year-old superstar LeBron James.
Lakers Will Face Tough Decision On LeBron James’ Future
James signed a player option for this season, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He has indicated that a last-dance season will have to wait for now, and a 24th season is on the table. However, whether that will happen in L.A. or anywhere else remains to be seen.
One thing that might be certain though is that James will seek to stay in a team that will provide contention. A possible team that can provide that is the Golden State Warriors.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James
The Warriors missed the playoffs this year after an abysmal season. However, they have managed to lock in head coach Steve Kerr with a new two-year contract. This move signals continuity in the Bay Area rather than a rebuild, and it directly heightens the Lakers’ risk of losing their franchise cornerstone in free agency this summer.
According to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, the Warriors’ commitment to Kerr will come with a commitment to give him contention pieces.
“The Warriors aren’t doing a reset,” Kawakami wrote. “They believe they can land another big-time player like Kawhi Leonard or LeBron James this offseason, which means Kerr is by far the best coach for the next few seasons.”
Kerr agreed to a two-year extension that will keep him as the NBA’s highest-paid coach at around $17.5 million annually. The deal ends weeks of speculation following the Warriors’ play-in exit.
Golden State lost any bit of competitiveness when Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry were out hurt with an ACL tear and knee issues respectively. Curry, who is another name that will remain in the Bay Area did return but it didn’t do much to save the franchise’s season.
This won’t be the first time the Warriors will seek out James. There have been speculations over the past couple of years in addition to the trio of him, Curry, and Kerr being in the Olympic team. However, nothing materialized.
Butler will not return for the start of next season at least which positions Golden State to get another star next to Curry.
Lakers Want LeBron to Stay?
The good news for the Lakers is that James hasn’t officially said he wants out of L.A. Also, a move to the Bay Area isn’t feasible for Golden State, which has one of the highest wage caps in the league.
GettyLeBron James and Stephen Curry greet one another.
Lakers management and fans undoubtedly want James to stay. He is still running ageless and he helped propel them past the Houston Rockets in six games in the first round. It was reminiscent of his prime and proof that he can still play on a contending team.
Retaining James will be priority number one for General Manager Rob Pelinka and the front office. They will however, have to fend off the tantalizing offer for James to join Curry for a final-chapter storyline.
For now, the Lakers will turn their attention to Monday night in hopes of salvaging something from their second-round series.
Lakers Receive Major LeBron James News After Warriors’ Steve Kerr Decision